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The birds of Nauru

Notornis, 55 (1), 8-19

D.W. Buden (2008)

Article Type: Paper

Thirty-four species of birds are recorded from the isolated Pacific island of Nauru. Six are treated as hypothetical pending corroboration; 3 others are introductions. Eighteen of the 25 indigenous species are non-breeding visitors (mainly migrating seabirds and shorebirds). The 7 confirmed or probable resident breeders include only 2 land birds, the Micronesian pigeon (Ducula oceanica) and the endemic Nauru reed-warbler (Acrocephalus rehsei). The Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) and white-winged tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) are reported as first records for Nauru. Hunting pressure and habitat degradation have contributed to reduced numbers of the Micronesian pigeon and the once abundant black noddy (Anous minutus), but the Nauru reed-warbler occurs commonly in degraded and modified habitats. Second-stage mining to recover phosphate deposits will likely reduce available habitat further for all resident breeding species, although land restoration is also planned. Bird band recoveries indicate that many seabirds, especially black noddies, reach Nauru thousands of kilometres from where they were fledged, but to what extent they are recruited into the local breeding population is unknown.

Editor’s notes

Notornis, 54 (2), 120-120

R. Holdaway (2008)

Article Type: Correction

Sex determination of South Island saddlebacks (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus) using discriminant function analysis

Notornis, 54 (2), 61-64

S.S. Taylor; I.G. Jamieson (2008)

Article Type: Paper

Male and female South Is saddlebacks (Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus) have monomorphic plumage characteristics and are not easily distinguishable. In this study, we developed discriminant functions to classify males and females using birds of known sex from Ulva I. Three discriminant functions using tarsus length, body mass, and a combination of tarsus length and body mass could classify birds with 90% accuracy.

Population density and detectability of 3 species of Fijian forest birds

Notornis, 54 (2), 99-111

D. Jackson; R. Jit (2008)

Article Type: Paper

Three endemic forest bird species, masked shining parrot Prosopeia personata, giant forest honeyeater Gymnomyza viridis, and golden dove Chrysoenas luteovirens were surveyed using distance sampling from forest tracks at 4 sites on Viti Levu, Fiji. Repeat surveys were made at 1 site to better understand the factors affecting detectability. Seasonal changes in detectability reflected the number of calling birds and were almost certainly linked to breeding. The highest mean densities (41 masked shining parrot km-2 (birds), 33 giant forest honeyeater km-2 (calling birds) and 14 golden dove km-2 (calling males) were found in low- to mid-altitude old-growth forest. Densities in degraded re-growth forest and mahogany plantations were about 30% and 50% lower, respectively. Densities in upland forest were very low for masked shining parrot (2.5 km-2), but moderate for giant forest honeyeater (21 km-2)and golden dove (8 km-2). Provisional population estimates of 50,000 pairs of masked shining parrot, 70,000 pairs of GFH and 60,000 pairs of golden dove were made though attention is drawn to the limitations and uncertainties of these estimates. In common with many Pacific Islands, the endemic avifauna of Fiji is threatened by forest loss and degradation and a lack of protected areas. This study could assist in the design of effective protective areas as well as being a baseline for future surveys.

Direct observations of shining cuckoos (Chrysococcyx lucidus) parasitising and depredating grey warbler (Gerygone igata) nests

Notornis, 54 (1), 15-19

J.V. Briskie (2007)

Article Type: Paper

The grey warbler (Gerygone igata) is the main host of the shining cuckoo (Chrysoccocyx lucidus) in New Zealand. I describe 4 observations of egg-laying by shining cuckoos in the nests of grey warblers, and 2 observations of adult cuckoos evicting, or attempting to evict, nestling warblers from non-parasitised nests. Nest were parasitised from 0658 to 1731 h NZDT, and the cuckoos took 5–18 s to lay their egg. In 3 nests in which it could be determined, the cuckoo left the nest with an egg in its bill. Warblers were present at 2 nests during parasitism and responded by attacking the cuckoo. Cuckoos evicted nestlings by pulling them out through the nest entrance and throwing them on the ground. Head- wounds on evicted chicks suggest they were pecked. Nestling eviction by adult shining cuckoos has not been previously reported and it may be a strategy to increase nest availability by inducing hosts to relay.
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